In 1997 I was 17 and going to spend the weekend at a cabin up in Big Bear. After a long night of doing wonderful illegal things we all decided to give snowboarding a try. To this day I can remember riding toe edge down the whole mountain and burning my legs up but the key point was... I was riding. Not doing it right but I had some speed and a little control and I loved it.

For the next few years I would go once or twice a year thinking how amazing of a sport it is but getting gear and up to the resort was not on my priority list.

7 years ago (next week actually)I landed a great job, Monday through Friday, 9 to 5 and making what I like to call "big people money," lol. Went out, geared up and bought a season pass. I average 40 days a season now and all I do is think about snowboarding.

4 years ago a friend invited me to go snowboarding with him in Nagano. I skateboarded in my teens and surfed a little. My buddy lent me all the gear (I bought some boots on his advice).
First day blue bird powder. Was on groomers, but because of skateboarding and surfing it just felt really easy. By lunch I was flying down the piste without hardly falling. Second day (bluebird 40cm of champagne powder) I followed my buddy around on blacks (scary but made it down) and blues and onto an ungroomed piste with 40cm of fresh.
Those first few turns in the pow with big spray coming off behind me. It was a new feeling. Kinda like riding a magic carpet. I was literally screaming with delight, the smile never left my face the whole day.
Been hooked on powder ever since.

Skateboarded almost everyday until I was 20 or so. I started skiing when I was 12 but in my mid 20s dropped both skateboarding and skiing altogether. I skied once again about 3 years ago but didn't really catch the skiing bug again. Then, I saw a video of Gigi Ruf riding some crazy back country and said to myself "self, I have to try that". Last year was my first season and I know I'm hooked for life. Just wished I had tried it sooner.

I bought all new gear and didnt even try it besides the little plastic boards that were from k Mart! I knew I would like it so I went to the mountain and fell in love, the atmosphere, the riders, everything is great about snowboarding it completes my life...

After my mom divorced my dad, she decided to use some of the alimony to go on the corny, stereotypical family ski trip we never got to go on. She gave me a choice of ski or snowboard lessons, and I thought snowboarding was cooler. Ahh, the good old days!

Started out skiing while living in CO. Honestly could take it or leave it. Got married. Wife and I went on couple of ski trips. We were way far apart in ability level. Decided we would learn snowboarding together. Hooked immediately.

Now live 3 miles from the lift. Work at night so I can ride every day.

Let's see. I lived in Cali as a small child and loved to skate. Moved to Washington and still loved to skate. Realized that skating in winter was nigh impossible in the PNW. Decided skiing would be fun since I had some friends that were into it. Skied for a few seasons, then realized I hated wearing ski boots and snowboard boots looked so much more comfortable. Picked up a board, boots and bindings from my friends brother-in-law that worked at the old K2 factory on Vashon Island. Learned to ride on ill fitting equipment, yet still had more fun than I ever could imagine having on skis. Dropped skiing like a hot rock after that, and never looked back. Had a giant hiatus form boarding due to life complications, but got back to snow finally a few seasons ago. Everyday now is spent dreaming of snowboarding. I think I'm trying to make up for all of my lost snow time, and that's just fine with me.

__________________Oh yeah!? Well, my mom says I'm cool!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clayton Bigsby

It never gets old, if you're in it for the passion, and not the fashion

I had tried skiing an snowboarding a few times as a kid but my friends where way beyond me in skill and when I decided to try and push myself I ended up bailing hard, cutting up my face and recieving a good concussion. Needless to say it puts you off of a sport like that at the age of 12.

So Last year, After sitting around my house for a few weekends after moving to a new city I decided I needed to find a hobby, get out of the house and meet some people. Spontaneously I chose to try snowboarding again. I went up a few times on my own and it was ok but I could have let it go. The following weekend came and I thought why not, I met a few people, it's better than sitting at home like a hermit so I went up again. After that I became determined to learn to snowboard and began pushing myself even if I didn't want to go because what else was I going to do. After a few weeks I was hooked and I fell in love, I began improving every day and it felt awesome. It opened me to new sports and this year I began cross training by mountain biking and wakeboarding , something I would have never touched before.

And I've become obsessed with it ever since, nothing gets me more jacked than hitting the slopes, some days I convince myself I love snowboarding more than girls.